Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Quite a few glaciers only have drag lifts, because they aren't solid enough for anything more.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I've used the T bar on the glacier and boy - is it steep, hold on tight !
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Curiosity is getting the better of me .... I've never been on a T-bar. Are they much different to a button drag lift?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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MissRibena, yes.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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achilles, Fair enough ... was only asking
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Yep - because on a T bar the gaper standing next to you in the lift line (to borrow a stateside term) can bring you down in an untidy heap any time they want. 40 seasons of experience? All the kit? Cat like balance and legs Charles Atlas could only dream of?* It all counts for nothing when the halfwit you're sharing a lift with chooses to slough their skis wildly over the tips of yours whilst mantaining a limpet-death-grip on the lift bar. Another good reason for carrying avalanche kit inbounds is so you have a shovel handy to bury their corpse...
*I have none of these things, but have been felled by idiots more times than I care to remember.
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MissRibena, a T-Bar is a draglift meant for 2 people as a opposed to 1, which is fine, as long as you have a person of similar height that can go alongside you on it, going on one on your own can be a nightmare.
I'm 6' 2" and have very seldom found anyone of similar height whenever I've gone on them which makes me believe that tall skiers avoid them like the plague!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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LOL cunners ... I don't know what's funnier; your description, or my own idea (from trying to figure out the logistics) that the 'T' went between your legs!!
I've only skied in Austria and haven't seen one of these - thankfully by the sounds of it. What do you do with your poles then - shove them under your arm?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Using a T-bar on your own is infinitely preferable to using one with someone you don't know, and even more so if they decide to join you at the last minute without realising that they are 6'5" and you are 5'6", with the result that the bar they've placed comfortably under their back bottom is trying to rip your kidneys out
The T-bars on the glacier at Kaprun go on for ever, which is why they tend to be emptier than the chairs, as mere mortals don't have the thighs of steel required to stay on all the way without wobbling and shaking for 10 minutes when you get to the top.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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MissRibena, the usual approach is to hold onto the shaft of the T with one hand, and hold your poles together in the other, either nonchalantly, or while trying to hold the end of the T piece to keep it where it should be.
However, it can also be a good strategy to use your poles to beat the other person senseless until they let go, so that you have some chance of making the top of the lift without falling over.
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brian
brian
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T-bars are no problem, just relax and ski uphill. As long as you don't have someone with you clinging on for dear life, white knuckle fashion, it's quite pleasant to have a partner. A wee chat on the way up, maybe even a cuddle if you're lucky.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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We also tried T Bars for the first time in Tignes last week, found them very tricky. One recommendation by our instructor was to make sure you pressing into each other's shoulders and that the best way is simply to put your arms around the person you are sharing the lift with
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Poster: A snowHead
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On the few times I go snowboarding there are ALWAYS T-Bars in the resort and the rider I get on with is ALWAYS about a foot shorter than I am, resulting in extremely suspicious-looking bruising to my left inner thigh.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I used T Bars in St Anton during snowboard lessons; most memorably riding up the lift with the instructor who led with the other foot.
It looked like were a couple of dancers...or worse maybe. No problems about falling off though.
You can always choose to ride them by yourself if needs be.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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brian wrote: |
T-bars are no problem, just relax and ski uphill. As long as you don't have someone with you clinging on for dear life, white knuckle fashion, it's quite pleasant to have a partner. A wee chat on the way up, maybe even a cuddle if you're lucky. |
LOL, I guess like me you've spent many years using the various T-bars in Scotland but actually they are a complete pain if you happen to be less than standard height (like a kid) or end up heading up with someone who is significantly taller than you - when that happens it's not great. I was reminded once again of how bad they can be in October when on the Tignes glacier and I was joined by someone who must have been around six foot - OUCH!
I had major hassles taking my daughter (then about 6) up the Ptarmigan tow the season before last - we had a lot of tears and she even managed to take me out half way up the tow despite (or perhaps because of!) my having given up on taking her up one the other side of the T and letting her stand in front of me so I could 'push' her all the way. I have to say it's the one major thing that puts me off taking her with me again on any of my trips up north, although Cairngorm might have the most Ts of all the Sottish ski areas - I don't know what the actual numbers are, do you?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Megamum, ha, I nearly found that out in Tignes last month...it was the first time I had used them, and after wacking myself in the head with the bar on my first attempt (still got on) I had no problem, going up on my own or sharing, even with little kids...until one time when I'd obviously got a bit blase and wasn't holding on too well, one of my skis caught and the bar shot out from behind me
I managed to cling on with one hand, drag it down and fling my arms over it, clamping it under my armpits !! and stayed like this for the entire rest of the way up, which seemed to take an eternity...
but still preferable to falling off and getting back onto the piste, from what I could see - too many huge chunks of ice in the way...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Megamum, Worrying about T bars is most of the problem. Relax. Try not to fight them.
Yes, you can ride them alone if you prefer.
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MissRibena wrote: |
LOL cunners ... I don't know what's funnier; your description, or my own idea (from trying to figure out the logistics) that the 'T' went between your legs!!
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You're not the first person to make this mistake. Good news is you did it in a chat forum and not in a T-bar queue. I've seen people with the T between their legs approaching the end of the drag and suddenly realising the error of their ways as they try to work out how to get off at the end
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In my early days on skis. I found it easier on Ts than on buttons. I gained a reputation amongst my friemds for continually falling of buttons, a reputation which holds some 16 years later
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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There are plenty of fasy chair lifts in the rest of Tonale. The Glacier is a bit boring, but worth a look.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Megamum, Yes, you can use them by yourself. You do really need to hold the end of the T that is furthest away from the shaft then thuogh, to stop it from twisting out from under you (or at least feeling like it is going to).
And yes, they are one way, as with all drag lifts
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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try using a T - bar with your kid , i'm 6ft , my son Tom was 6 years old and 3ft nothing. We were using the White Lady T-Bar (red) at Cairngorm in 2005 , i have never felt so much pain, and had the bruises a to prove it. In a sad sort of way I'm glad the lift broke this year (kidding) , but then again with no money to fix it , makes the uplift difficult when the White Lady can be skied, which more imprortantly is normally a sign that Scotland is getting one of its rare good winters when we want all our lifts running.
If using a T-Bar , get someone of similar height who relaxes, or if it is not busy , go up alone.
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RichardB, I have been up that very T-bar of which you speak. It is a real b*tch, it's sooo steep. My mobile rang while I was on it and I was too scared to get it out of my pocket when I got to the top and looked it was Vodaphone advertising snow reports
Yhe run down is lovely though, enjoy!
edit 'cos I can't spell
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You know it makes sense.
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Ahhh.. Cairngorm T-bars. Fond memories of taking my (then) small son up the T- bars. Think about it - small person’s backside was about my knee level and it doesn't take much to work out why a backward somersault follows any slight error.
Actually I far prefer T-bars to button tows. I snowboard, my partner skis and so I can just lean on him! It is much more relaxing than having to keep my wits about me on a button tow. I also find the dismount on a T-bar so much easier than button tow or sodding chairlift. If I take the bar* at the dismount it is just enough to steady me into a graceful departure rather than a splat.
* If you haven't used a T-bar before, part of the ritual is negotiating with your co-pilot as to which one of you will release the bar in a controlled fashion at the top as it feeds back into the coiled thingy. Otherwise bar wangs up around the cable and the lift goes off for another 10 mins whilst it's sorted ... just remembering why people don't like T- bars!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Quote: |
negotiating with your co-pilot as to which one of you will release the bar in a controlled fashion at the top as it feeds back into the coiled thingy. Otherwise bar wangs up around the cable and the lift goes off for another 10 mins whilst it's sorted
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...good point.
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Poster: A snowHead
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alex_heney wrote: |
Quite a few glaciers only have drag lifts, because they aren't solid enough for anything more. |
Thats not the main reason.
The T Bar is the cheapest most efficient form of uphill transport. Because the Glacier is moving they are much cheaper & easier to re-align.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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The main advantage of the T-bar is that it has less wind resistance and can operate in marginal weather conditions - higher winds. The T-bar still requires fixed pylons but as the grip is fixed to the wire rope theres less ironmongery at the bottom.
The downside to that is that it doesnt slow down for you and you have to get your positioning and timing right to grab the 'T'
Haven't come across any in France - buts its required usage in Scotland. Agree that you must remember to feed the T back into the box when dismounting before letting go - or it will wrap itself round the bullwheel/downhaul causing chaos.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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maybe time to stop worrying about t bars too much, they are not exactly rocket science are they. soft tarts
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Are there many in Vallandry/Les Arcs (NewSkier is trembling at the thought!)
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Used T-bars for the first time when in Wengen last year. To be honest they were slightly trickier than a button lift to grab because they don't stop but not a big deal. On the other hand I found them easier than a button once moving, even with Skibbette jnr who is less than a quarter of my weight.
In particular, on steep slopes, a t-bar offers support to pull you along while with a button you have to do a death clamp with your thighs to avoid it being ripped out.
I wouldn't recommend that a boarder and skier share a T-bar however.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Skibb wrote: |
I wouldn't recommend that a boarder and skier share a T-bar however. |
Why not? Have you tried it?
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I think T bars do look dreadful, but then that might be because I haven't tried one yet. I wonder why they don't just do a double button coming off of a a horizontal bar - I can't see why that wouldn't work. B.t.w. in terms of terminology - I know that Poma is popular on here, I'd never seen it used before I logged on here though. My Swiss friends call it a Tellerlift (sp?), they also call a chair lift a 'Seisali' (def. sp?), I think they also have a term for the T bar as well. So for clarity I call them buttons, T bars and chairs (oh and gondolas) and everyone seems to know what I'm on about.
Mind you I did once worry about button lifts, but I'm quite good on them now (famous last words and all that - watch the MK thread tomorrow!!). My Swiss friend has a 7 year old son though and she says that he finds the T bar difficult by himself because he isn't heavy enough to keep it down, he can ride it with his 5 year old sister and between them they keep it down, but the recoil is too much for him alone.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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T-bars are dangerous. The cables are prone to wear and snapping. Nuff said.
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brian
brian
Guest
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